Automobile safety device



S. MORGENSTERN AUTOMOBILE SAFETY DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1922 Patented Mar. ld, 1223.

t UEL MORGENSTERN, OF BROOKLYN', YORK.

AUTOMOBILE SAFETY DEVICE.

Application filed November 18, 1922. Serial No. 601,924'.

To all wwm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MORGEN- STERN, a citizen of Czechoslovakia, residing `at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, 'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Safety Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates generally to vehicle fenders, being intended more particularly for application to automobiles, motor trucks or the like.

The invention has for a general object to provide a novel and improved fender which is automatically lowered when a bumper bar carried in front of the vehicle is struck.

More specifically speaking the invention has for an object to provide electrically conl trolled automatic release means for the 2 0 fender, a further object relating to the provision of means whereby the fender may be restored by the driver to normal position, after being lowered, without the necessity of the driver leaving his seat.

For further comprehension of the invention, vand of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly Aset forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a partial side view of an automobile equipped with my improved fender.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, part plan and part horizontal section, showing the bumper structure.

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 3,-3 of Fig.v 2. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 4.4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view' illustrating the winding apron.

Fig'. 6 is a diagram of the electric circuit.

In the drawings the body of an automobile ofl ordinary construction is indicated at 4l0. they mainv side frame members of the ch'assisbeing shown at 11 and one of the front Wheels being indicated at 12. Ac?

5a to my'l inventionv a pair of arms 14C areiixed to and project longitudinally from the front ends of the side frame members 11. Slidably engaged inthe forward ends of these arms and projecting forwardly therefrom are pins 15 having a bumper bar 16 55l fixed on their forward ends. These pins 15 p are urged forwardly by springs .such as 17 located in recesses such as 18 in the arms 14 and bearing against ianges such as 19 on the pins.

The intermediate portion of each arm 14; is channeled on its underside as at 21 and in this channel a pair of suitably insulated contact springs 22, 2 3 are mounted. Fixed on the rear end of each -pin 15 is a beveled 65 nose 24 of insulating material which is adapted, when the bumper bar 16 is moved rearwardly to engage the upwardly inclined end of Contact 23 and move it into engagement with contact 22.

A second pair of spring contacts 25, 25 are mounted under the contact 23 and are normally held in engagement with each other by the latter, the contact 25 raising automatically from contact 25 when con- 75 tact 23 is lifted. l Fixed to and depending from the sides of the frame members 11 are pairs of cheek plates 26I which are located slightly rearward of the front wheels 12. Extending between and journaled in the respective pairs of plates is a transverse shaft 26 to which is fixed, one between each pair of plates, the arms 27 which extend forwardly under the front axle 28 and may be united adjacent 85 their front ends byfa crossbar 29. Upon the front axle 28 kof theautomobile a series of collars such as 30 are fixed and serve to rotatably support an enclosing hollow roller 31 to which is attached one end of a fender apron 32 whose opposite end is attached to a second crossbar 33 extending between the arms 27 at a distance behind the front crossbar 29. An apron 34C may cover the space between these crossbars. A spring may be applied to roller 31 in a well known manner to rotate the same in a direction to wind the apron 32 thereon. Fixed to and projecting upward from the fender arms 27 are curved elements such as 35 which act as 100 guards inv front of the wheels 12.

Mounted between each pair of cheek plates is a pair of electromagnets 40 axially alined in opposed relation to one another. Pivoted as at 41 between each pair of cheek-plates is a pair of latches 41 having hooked lower ends adapted to engage under opposed sides of a head 42 formed on the upper end of a rod 43 projecting upward from'each fender arm 27 lThese latches 41 extend between the electro-magnets 4() yand have the armatures '44 of the latter fixed thereon. The coils of these electro-magnets are wired to the contacts 22, 23 so that when the latter are closedthe electro-magnets'are energized, the latches 41 are freed from the heads 42, allowing the fender to drop, the falling action being hastened by springs such as 46 which press downward on the fender arms 27.

Extending transversely between the arms 14,k and journaled at its ends in lugs such as 50 depending from the latter, is a rod 51 to which is fixed a pair of forwardly projecting latches 52 adapted to engage under the fender bar '16 when the latter is moved rearwardly by striking an object, and hold the same in such position, maintaining the contacts 22, 23 closed.A The latches 52 are resiliently urged to locking position by a spring 53 coiled around and acting on the rod 51,' upward movement being limited by means of fingers 54 eX- tending laterally therefrom and engaging u nder the arms 14. The latches 52 are provided with downwardly projecting tail- 'pieces' such as 52 which have beveled lower ends adapted to be engaged by the crossbar 29, by giving the fender an upward movement slightly beyond its normal raised position, to release said latches.

To raise the fender a cord 56 isattached to one of the arms 27 vand leads upward to one of the side frame members 11 and rearwardly along the latter. and finally upward behind the dashfboard 10',- having ahandle 57 onits end, The slack in the cord 56 may be taken up by a weak vtension spring 58 connected thereto and to the dash-latitud.A The wiring circuits include a main lead 70 connecting in seriesthe vcoils 40 with each other and with the contacts 23. through a battery 71 or other source of power,- a seeond lead 72 connecting the contacts 22 to one another. The eontactsz are connected, through the spark-plugs 73, by leads 74,' 75 to oppositesides of battery 71, a lead 76 connecting contacts 25 to one another.

' Suitabl'y mounted on the dash-board is ay triple leg hand switch 77. One leg of this hand switch controls the spark lead 74 while the other legs control vshunt leads 78, 79 across the contacts 22,` 23, the switch being arranged as to open the spark contact when the shunt is closed and vlce Versa. It will and release the same.

neas aaa be apparent that when the nose 24 strikes contact 23 the spark circuit will be opened.

Itis believed that the manner of operation of my improved fender will be readily understood from the above description. When the bumper 16 is struck the circuit through the electro-magnets 40 is closed, the latches 41 are releasedfrom the heads 42, and the fender drops. To restore the fender the driver pulls on cord 56, lifting the feeder. The latter is moved slightly higher than is necessary for bringing head 41 into enga ing relation to the latches, this final upwar movement causing the crossbar 29 on the fender to engage the tail' pieces 52 of latches 52, which engaged the umper 16 as the latter moved backward, The circuit is thus opened and springs such as 60 connected to the pairs of latches 41 moves them Vinto position with their hooked lower ends under the heads 42, the cord 56 being then released. The arms 27 may carry small wheels such as 61 to support the fender when lowered;

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

t 1. ln a vehicle, va hinged fender element, means holding said fender element raised, an electroemagnetic device for releasings'aid means, a movable bumper bar, 'contacts adapted to be engaged by said bumper bar to 'close acircuit through saidele'ctro-inagnetic device, means adapted to hold said bur'ii'per bar in position engaging said contacts, and means adapted to automatically release said last mentioned means when the fender is raised.

2r In a vehicle, a hinged fender element, latches holding said fender element raised, electro-magnets for releasing Said latches, a movable bumper bar, and contacts adapted to be eugaged by said bumper har to nets, latches adapted to hold said bumper vhat iu position engaging y'said contacts. and

automatically release said latches when the fender is rae latches holding said fender element raised, mentioned latches when the fen 4. In a vehicle, ahinged -fender element, adapted to automatically release said lastv der is raised, 10

electro-magnets for releasing said latches, and a cord attached to said fender for rais` .a movable bumper bar, and contacts adaptin the same.

5 ed to be engaged by said bumper bar .to 'n testimony whereof I have aixed my close a circuit through said electro-magnets. signature. latches adapted to hold said bumper bar in position engaging said contacts, and means SAMUEL MORGENSTERN. 

